A vaccine-derived polio case recently confirmed in Gaza has led to a two-round vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 kids set to begin this weekend in the war-torn region.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a phased, limited 3-day pause in fighting to facilitate the vaccinations, beginning September 1.
According to this week’s report from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case was identified earlier this month in Gaza, the first case in 25 years.
Six cVDPV2-positive environmental samples have been reported in Gaza this year.
Today, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros NAME said on X, “We welcome the commitment to humanitarian pauses in specific areas, and suspension of evacuation orders for the implementation of the campaign. But the only lasting medicine is peace. The only way to fully protect all the children of Gaza is a ceasefire.”
We welcome the commitment to humanitarian pauses in specific areas, and suspension of evacuation orders for the implementation of the campaign.
1.2 million vaccine doses ready in Gaza
Tedros said today during WHO’s weekly briefing that more than 1.2 million doses of vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, and 2,180 healthcare workers and community outreach workers have been trained in vaccination strategies. Tedros said the goal is 90% vaccination coverage during each round of the campaign
In other polio news, the GPEI noted more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In Afghanistan, four WPV1 cases were reported in Kandahar, raising this year’s total to 17 cases. In Pakistan, two WPV1 cases were reported in Balochistan and Sindh, with 16 cases reported so far this year.
Chad, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan also recorded cases, all cVDPV2.
